The ship named LABE, whose home until now was Prague's Vltava river, reached Zemplínska Šírava after a 3,500-kilometre journey through Central Europe, including a land transfer. (source: Košice Region Tourism)
After many years of absence, the waters of the Zemplínska šírava reserovir in eastern Slovakia once again welcome its largest visitor attraction - a cruise ship capable of providing up to 164 passengers with a comfortable sailing experience not only in summer, but also in transitional seasons.
The ship named LABE, whose home until now was Prague's Vltava river, reached Zemplínska šírava after a 3,500-kilometre journey through Central Europe, including a land transfer.
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"The views from the upper deck of LABE, but also from the comfort of the enclosed air-conditioned space on its main deck, will be appreciated by all visitors, for whom the visit to the reservoir will take on a completely new dimension," says Rastislav Trnka, governor of the Košice Region, adding that to experience the reservoir this way will become a new reason to visit eastern Slovakia.
After sailing through seven European countries, LABE arrived at the dock in the village of Ladmovce, southeastern Slovakia, on June 2.
From there, during the so-called Operation Ball Lightning, an oversized transport moved it on a route more than 60-kilometre long on August 20 through the villages of Cejkov, Zemplínske Jastrabie, Oborín, Bracovce, Ložín, Bánovce nad Ondavou, Trhovište and Pozdišovce to the town of Michalovce and then to Zemplínska šírava.
Once in Ladmovce, a crane placed the ship on a special chassis, which consisted of several parts and had a total of 19 axles. Such cargo last passed through Michalovce exactly 30 years ago, in 1994, when the ships Atlantída and Andante from Zemplínská šírava were sold and taken to Prague.
The LABE's operator underlines the level of comfort that the 37-metre, 70-ton ship will provide to its passengers.
"On board, sanitary facilities, a sun terrace and an air-conditioned salon in the front part of the ship are available for visitors. Refreshments during the cruise are provided by the on-board buffet, and a kitchen will be added later," says manager of company Zemplínska Vodná Doprava, Matej Kapraľ.
From the point of view of the development of tourism, the operation of such a boat is a great opportunity for strengthening the off-season tourism at Zemplínská šírava, which does not have to be strictly perceived only as a place for summer fun, but also as an attractive place to spend time in spring and autumn.
"The ship will naturally be advertised not only as a sightseeing means of transport, but also as a meeting place for various occasions, whether during family celebrations, small celebrations in the form of book presentations, or team building and corporate events," says the director of the Košice Region Tourism organisation, Lenka Vargová Jurková.
All important information about the sailing route, times and frequency of sailings, as well as the price list and reservation portal will be made available here well in advance of the first commercial sailing.
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